Mary and Max

Rating:

* * * *

Verdict:

A memorable, original, offbeat adult animation.

This might be a simply structured story about an odd friendship between two unlikely penpals, but there is nothing simple or easy about life for the characters in this claymation black comedy, directed by Adam Elliot.

Following his 2004 Oscar-winning animated short Harvie Krumpet, which featured a lead character with Tourette's syndrome,

Mary and Max

is also filled with characters suffering from disabilities and debilitating afflictions, this time ranging from Asperger's syndrome to obesity and addiction, and agoraphobia to low self-esteem, depression and loneliness.

Mary Daisy Dinkle is a nerdy, friendless, 8-year-old Aussie girl with a birthmark unluckily placed in the middle of her forehead. Living in a Melbourne suburb with her alcoholic mother and a father who spends all his time in the garden shed "playing with dead birds", Mary randomly selects a name out of an American phone book, hoping this person might like to become her penpal and, more importantly, explain where babies come from.

The recipient of Mary's letter is 44-year-old Max Jerry Horovitz, a mentally unstable, obese Jewish New Yorker who, after recovering from the anxiety attack Mary's inquisitive letter gives him, decides to write back. After all, it has been one of Max's life-long aims to have a friend.

What develops between these two misfits is a heartening, long-lasting friendship that allows them to share, through letters, both the intimate and the trivial information about their lives, in which there seem to be more downs than ups.

If it all sounds a bit grim, it is. But it's also deliciously wicked and witty, with a dark sense of humour, intriguing looking characters and fabulous voice talent. Narrated by Barry Humphries, it stars the voices of Philip Seymour Hoffman, who brilliantly brings Max to life and sounds unrecognisable, and Toni Collette as the adult Mary, while Eric Bana makes an impression as Mary's neighbour, Damien.

Mary and Max

occasionally gets bogged down in the trivial, and the pace ebbs and flows, but for all the tragedy that befalls this unenviable pair they remain quite likeable, and their sweet and unique stories make them two of the most memorable characters of the year.

Francesca Rudkin

Voices:

Toni Collette, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Eric Bana

Director:

Adam Elliot

Running time:

92 mins

Rating:

PG (sexual references)